Speaking to Larry “Major Nelson” Hryb, director of programming for Xbox Live, Bethesda’s Pete Hines detailed the microtransactions system. Atoms are the premium currency in the game, and while they can be purchased for real money, they’re also earned in-game by accomplishing different tasks. These can then be spent on outfits, skins, and other cosmetic items.

“Atoms are things that we use and hand out as you play the game- quite honestly we throw them at you all the time. You get them as little rewards for leaving the Vault or the first time you kill a creature or the first time you pick fruits or vegetables from somewhere.

“It’s a little challenge reward. Atoms are used in our shop to buy cosmetics things. So you know, new outfits or skins or things like that. [Things to customise] your character to look unique from everybody else,” said Hines.

Though the pricing for said cosmetics hasn’t been detailed, pre-ordering Fallout 76 on the Xbox One will net players 500 Atoms right away. With the beta starting on October 23rd for Xbox One and a week later for PS4 and PC, we’ll have plenty of time to experience Fallout 76’s online shenanigans for ourselves.